Research
The UTC’s researchers work closely with senior engineers in Rolls-Royce on projects that impact directly on the development of new engines. The most recent engine that the Group has contributed to is the Trent 900, which powers the new Airbus A380.
This page outlines the Gas Turbine Transmission group’s history, research aims and facilities. The work is divided broadly into three areas, shafts and structures, dynamics and fluid Dynamics. More information on these can be found by clicking the following links:
Background and history
The Faculty of Engineering has a long history of working with Rolls-Royce on a wide
range of aeroengine-related projects, including projects on the
transmission systems. As a result of this successful collaborative
research, the University was invited to bid, along with many other
universities for the setting up of a Rolls-Royce University Technology
Centre (UTC) in Gas Turbine Transmission systems. Nottingham’s bid
was successful and the UTC was formally inaugurated in March 1997.
Since then the group has grown from 2 research students and 1
experimental officer working with 3 academics in Mechanical Engineering
to 12 research students, 7 post-doctoral Research Assistants, 2
technicians, 2 experimental officers and a rigs manager working with 15
academics. In addition to funding from Rolls-Royce for both long-term
core research and research to support the development of individual
engines, funding also comes from DTI, EPSRC, Euopean Commission and
other industrial sources.
With extensive computational and experimental facilities, the
group is fully equipped for experimental and numerical analyses. These
are used to develop validated modelling tools for all aspects of shaft,
support structure, bearings and oil systems behaviour. The extremely
complex nature of the research requires an interdisciplinary approach
to bring the necessary range of expertise, skills and equipment to bear
on the problems. Hence, academics and researchers in the School of
Mathematical Sciences and the School of Chemical, Environmental and
Mining Engineering join those in the School of Mechanical, Materials
and Manufacturing Engineering to collaborate on projects.